P.S. I Love You Movie Review

I have been salivating over seeing this movie for months now.

What a HUGE disappointment!

Because, NOW, I have to figure out which one of my ten favorite movies I'm going to have to knock out of line so this one can take its spot. :]

Excellent, excellent movie! A dirocom* that ranks up there with When Harry Met Sally and Why Did I Get Married. One to see over and over and over again. Great acting, lush scenery (Is Ireland really that beautiful?), and NOW we're talking some EYE CANDY!!! (For both girls AND guys, by the way.)

I was expecting it to be a downer movie with a few bits and pieces of funnies thrown in, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was equally amusing and saddening (and a bit disturbing for a few scenes....would you really take the urn of your dead spouse out with you to a club? ewww)

And this time I checked imdb and I don't see that anyone has already mentioned the following scene (one of my favorites) as being one of the best in the film:

(as Denise - Lisa Kudrow - is trolling for men in the bar, she comes up to Hottie #1)

(Denise) "Are you single?"
(H1) "Yes."
(Denise) "Are you gay?"
(H1 - laughing) "Yes."

(Denise walks away.)

(A few minutes later, Denise finds Hottie #2)

(Denise) "Are you single?"
(H2) "Yes."
(Denise) "Are you gay?"
(H2) "No."
(Denise) "Are you working?"
(H2) "No."

(Denise walks away.)

- Now, I know this is what is shown in the trailer - that always gets laughs, but the next part is NOT shown in the trailer -

(A little bit later, Denise comes up to Hottie #3)

(Denise) "Are you single?"
(H3) "Yes."
(Denise) "Are you gay?"
(H3) "No."
(Denise) "Are you working?"
(H3) "Yes."

(So at this point, Denise smiles, grabs him by the face with both hands and plants a 2-3 second kiss on him. But there is no chemistry in the kiss, so she walks away...leaving him dumbfounded.)

(I LOVE the technique she used to find a guy. Think I could get away with that?) :]

But the movie isn't about Denise.

It's about Holly and Gerry who married young and have been able to stick it out for 9 years. They still live in a small apartment and she's still trying to find out what kind of career is really going to make her happy as she bounces from job to job.

The movie opens up with them fighting over trivial things (the meanings behind the words that are being said or if the things being said are just being said to be saying something - heheheh, go figure that one out) and non-trivial things (they both want to have a baby but they don't have the money and she wants to wait until they do and he thinks they can make it work and is willing to take on another job or get a bigger place), but the bottom line is she needs to tell him what she wants. Does she want to find a bigger place? Does she even want him to be in her life? Would she rather he leave? You can see they have a strong connection and absolutely adore each other, so the fight doesn't last long and you fall in love with their relationship as he tells her he's not going anywhere. And you believe him.

The next scene, everyone is dressed in black and you see the picture of Gerry and realize that he's dead. (He died of a brain tumor.) There was a good character development at the beginning of the movie so your heart is breaking along with hers as she walks into the empty apartment, climbs into bed with her phone and dials his cell phone again and again and again just to hear his voice as she cries herself to sleep.

So now, weeks later, she hasn't left the apartment and is having imaginary conversations with her late husband, not being able to deal yet with the fact that he's gone.

Her family and friends startle her (as she's in the middle of belting out a show tune to the tv) with a visit to wish her a happy 30th. Come to find out, he made arrangements to provide for his young widow. A mysterious birthday cake arrives from Gerry with a tape recorder and a letter from him telling her that more letters and surprises will be sent to her to remind her of his neverending devotion to her and to also help nudge her into moving on with her life and being happy even though he is gone.

I don't recall a single boring scene. What I do remember is laughing a lot and crying a lot and (sap that I am) sometimes doing both at the same time. And while this will be categorized as a chick-flick, I am here to tell you that the guys in the audience were laughing just as hard as the girls...and just as often.

I don't want to give too much away, but Holly finds herself being wooed by two men - one of whom is a helper at the bar her mom runs and the other she meets when she visits her in-laws in Ireland and you're not really sure who to root for because they both seem fitting to be her new soulmate. I won't say if the ending was happy or sad or which one (if any) she ends up with, but it was most satisfying.

I can't wait for this one to come out on dvd so I can begin my ritual of watching it again and again. And although it's not REQUIRED to see it on the big screen, a movie this great needs to be seen right away. You will leave the theater with a happiness in your heart and an appreciation for true love...whether or not you already have that in your life with your spouse or significant other or whether you are (like me) still searching for it.

Vixy :]

*Dirocom = [DIE row com] dialogue-y romantic comedy